Nail These Party-Perfect Manicures For NYE

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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You’ve got the dazzling dress, the killer heels, the perfect clutch — but your New Year’s Eve ensemble isn’t quite complete without the mani to match. While you could always go with something subtle, we think ringing in 2013 deserves a little more fanfare. That’s why we tapped John Barrett Salon manicurist Marie Barokas to update some festive favorites with five truly original, truly chic ways to let your fingers do the talking.

Whether you gravitate toward glitter, want an unexpected take on metallics, or prefer a hint of sparkle, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in these manicure ideas. The best part: you don’t need to be anartiste to re-create these looks at home. (We’ll raise our glass to that!)

So, chill the bubbly, break out the noisemakers, and get ready to let your digits shine. Because if you’re counting down the seconds until the clock strikes midnight, you might as well do so on well-polished nails.

1

Paired with gunmetal accessories, pastels suddenly feel less precious. Here, the metallic microglitter in Topshop’s Valley nail polish adds a hint of shimmer to its creamy mint base. “Green is a hard color to pull off, but this is mild,” Barokas says. “Because of the silver specks, it’s more interesting.” 

H&M Dress, $49.95, available at H&M stores; Lulu Frost Demeter Collar, $310, available at Lulu FrostBCBGMAXAZRIA Portia Crystal-Mesh Minaudiere, $178, available at BCBG.

2

Surprisingly, this candy-colored hue flatters dark and light skin tones (and many in between). The trick, Barokas says, is in the application. “For darker skin tones, one coat is sufficient,” she says. “If your skin is lighter, wear two coats so the green doesn’t blend into your skin tone.”

3

“Shimmer is always a good option for New Year’s Eve,” Barokas says. We couldn’t agree more. Here, she created a multidimensional look by layering The New Black polish in 24 Hour Party Purple over a base of CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Vio-Last. 

Capwell + Co Curb Chain and Crystal Magnetic Bracelet, $32, available at Capwell + Co; Capwell + Co Silver Rectangle Graduated Toggle Bracelet, $28, available at Capwell + Co.

4

If you’ve avoided glitter polishes because they’re a bear to remove — and they can be! — here’s a solution. Finer glitters come off more easily than chunky ones do, but the key to cleaning up your nails is in the formula. “The best way is to use 100% acetone remover from a beauty supply store,” Barokas says. “It removes glitter faster than what you get at the drugstore, but it can be drying to thinner nails.” To avoid parched nails, she recommends soaking nails in warm olive oil for five minutes. Couldn’t be easier.

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Vio-Last, $4.99, available at Drugstore.comThe New Black Nail Polish in 24 Hour Party Purple, $32 for eight-piece set, available at Sephora.

5

Late-night celebrations call for something special, and dark red nails with a champagne-colored outline are pure glamour. “The half-moon manicure, as we’ve seen it, is kind of done,” Barokas says. “This is a little different. Regular half-moons come down the nail, cutting it off. But doing it in reverse with a lighter shade elongates the nail.” 

Juliet and Company Borgogne Bracelet, $59, available at Juliet and CompanyH&M Bracelet, $12.95, available at H&M stores.

6

This look is more involved than others, but the payoff is, well, golden. First, apply two coats of Sonia Kashuk nail color in Golden Ticket over the entire nail, allowing the nails to dry thoroughly. If you don’t have a steady hand, place round French polish guide stickers in a U shape at the nail bed, firmly pressing the sticker to the nail. Next, apply two coats of Sephora by OPI polish in Mr. Right Now to the uncovered portion of the nail. Then, wait for at least 10 minutes before slowly removing the sticker. Finish with Seche Vite top coat.

Sonia Kashuk Nail Color in Golden Ticket, $4.79, available at TargetSephora by OPI Nail Colour in Mr. Right Now Sephora.

7

Glitter doesn’t have to feel juvenile. Case in point: this gold-on-champagne pairing looks more luxe than little-girl. “Glitter sometimes looks young,” Barokas admits. “But, because this particular glitter is multidimensional, it looks more sophisticated.” 

BCBGMAXAZRIA Multistone Cocktail Ring, $38, available at BCBG.

8

To create the confetti-strewn effect seen here, apply one coat of Essie’s Good as Gold as a base. Follow with Julep’s Vivien, which has hexagonal and micro-glitter shapes to add dimension. To better control the glitter coverage, choose a glitter polish with a clear base. “You can apply another layer over an area that doesn’t have much, and you won’t notice any streaks,” Barokas says. 

Essie Nail Color in Good As Gold, $8, available at EssieJulep Nail Color in Vivien, $14, available at Julep.

9

Think French manicures are cliché? Not when they’re done with a pearlized finish and topped off with colorful glitter. “This iridescent color has tones of nude and lavender,” Barokas says. “It still has a natural appearance, but when the light hits it, it shines.”

H&M Dress, $69.95, available at H&M stores.

10

Creating this look merely requires a steady hand. After applying a base coat, Barokas slicked on two coats of MAC nail lacquer in Endless Night. After the polish dried, she applied Deborah Lippmann’s Happy BIrthday over the tips in a dot-and-dab motion. 

MAC Nail Lacquer in Endless Night, $17.50, available at MACDeborah Lippmann Glitter Nail Color in Happy Birthday, $18, available at Nordstrom.

Photographed by Ben Rayner at The Wooly;

Nails by Marie Barokas;

Styling by Willow Lindley;

Modeled by Sonya at Parts Models.

Click HERE to read more from Refinery29.

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